Portable ironing machine



Nov'o W, H925- M. HEDGLQN PORTABLE IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nm.- w, i925 u 1,560,989

M. HEDGLON PORTABLE IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VEN TOR.

electric socket in common use. These heating elements are well-known and 4need not be described in detail herein.

The press-roll 4 comprises an elongated hollow cylinder 4', preferably made of sheet metal normally open throughout, whose opposite ends are closed by similar pressed or cast metal discs 4-, which may be soldered or otherwise permanently held in place. The central portions of the discs 4 are preferably drawn inwardly for providing alining axial bearings for horizontal gudgeons 13, upon which e bers 13 extend upwardly above the roll 4,.

the roll freely rotates. These .gudgeons are integral portions of a pair of similar eccentric members 13', by which the roll may be rocked vertically towards and away from the shoe 3, as shown in Fig. 3, the members 13 being' formed substantially U-shaped, and the corresponding ends of the members being formed into crank-like portions com rising the gudgeons 13 and horizontal portions 13a, which are connected by vertical portions 13". According to the present showing, the part 13", at the front end of the machine is journaled in the bottom of a vertical slot 6 of the bracket 6 (see Figs. 2 and 3), and the art 13u at the rear vend is journaled in a similar slot 14 of an. L- shaped bracket 14 (seeFigs. 1, 2 and 4). From the bearings 6 and 14', both mem-a and thence longitudinally towards each other in the same plane and their facing ends are embedded in the ends of la wooden or other suitable handle, as 13 (see Fig. 2), by which the eccentric actions which raise and lower the press-roll are effected, as shown by the fulland dotted lines in Fig. 3. The roll 4 is Vresiliently' held in the operative position (see full lines in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5)., by tension springs 15, which are ,disposed in the slots 614, the. said springs being held 1n place and depressed against the tops of the parts 13a, by caps 15 and screws 15. These springs are preferably of such strength as to effect-the required pressure of the roll 4 upon the articles supported by the shoe, and yet yield readily to ordinary exertlon when the operator swings the roll away from the shoe, for applying or adjusting the articles to be ironed. The roll 4 is preferably entirely covered by a relatively thick layer of cushion material 4d, as felt, which is made fast to the drum 4', and aords the requlsite adhesive friction to move the articles over the concave surface of the shoe, which effects the smoothing and ironing. in a majority of the older power ironing machimes, 1t has been the practice to form the concave upper surface of the shoes plain and. smooth, and without any means of draining or ventilating the said surfaces. By reason of this construction and arrangement of the parts, the` greater portion of the hot moist vapor resulting from the heatingand pressing of the damp articles, has been absorbed by the thick padding of the press-rolls, and when the ironing is continued for long intervals, the padding be'- comes saturated to such extent that the fabcrease in breadth and depth in the direction of the travel of the articles during the ironing, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5. These grooves or gutters are preferably undulations, without any sharp or abrupt margins, that might tear or distort the fabric, and they are so constructed that the pressure exerted upon the roll 4, owing to the compressible or spongy nature of the padding 4d, forces the web of the pliant article downwardly into the gutters 3, as shown in Fig. 5. rihis tends to stretch and smooth out the shrunken and wrinkled fabric, without unduly straining the web, and restores the goods to their original or natural con dition, as before they were wetted and washed. This pressing of the fabric into the tters 3, materially increases the area of t e heating surface, vwithout requiring increase ofthe size of the shoe and press-roll, and greatly facilitates and improves the ironing work. The flutes 3e also serve to effectively ventilate and drain the relatively long and broad ironing surface of the shoe, and being open at their opposite ends, afford ready means of escapefor the hot moist vapor given oii` by the damp articles, which tends to keep the padding 4d in a relatively dry state durin long ironing periods.

My machine 1s preferably driven by an electric motor, as 16, whoseA armature shaft 16', connects with an ali'ning shaft 17, by a clutch or coupling 18. 'ihe shaft 17 rotates in bearings 17, which ma,7 be integral parts of the bracket 6., and preferably passes horizontally through the cavity 6a, and supports and drives a worm 17, which meshes with and operates the worm-gear 7.- rThe gear 7, as explained, is mounted on the shaft 7,

which also supports and drives a pinion 19,

the latter meshing with and driving a spurgear 20, which is rigidly secured to the adjacent disc-head 4a of the press-roll 4.. The pinion 19 is preferably provided with sharp star-teeth, which facilitates the ready meshing and unrneshing of the gears itl-20, when the roll 4 is lowered and raised, as shown in ig. 3. Y

My portable ironingmachines for household use are only 30 to 36 inches in length,

ite

Lacona@ and may be readily handled by grown members of alfamily. The machines may be laid flat upon a table or other support, or they may be supported at their opposite ends'like the common ironing-boards. When skirts, shirts, or other tubular articles are to be ironed, the operator should first swing the roll 4 upwardly away from the shoe, then insertthe rearend of the machine into the garment. The opposite ends of the machine should be placed upon suitable supports and the press-roll lowered for starting the ironing, which may thereafter proceed as in the case of ordinary articles, as explained.

The maintaining of 'the padding 4E in its natural dry and cushion state, devoid of eX- cessive moisture and the resultant sogginess, when taken in connection With the undulat-y ing path over which the articles are moved during the ironing operations, as explained, enables me to effect the ironing Work more rapidly and more perfectly, than by any other method and apparatus known to me.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim, is-

The combination with a frame, and a padded press roll operatively mounted in said frame, of a longitudinally luted concave heated shoe sup orted by said frame below saidl roll, the utes of said shoe increasing in breadth and depth in the direction of travel of the articles While the latter are being ironed, the Weight of the roll tending to press the padding and the articles deeper into the said flutes as they are moved over the shoe, and means for heating the shoe throughout.

l In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

' MEAD HEDGLON. 

